Study Shows Virginians Are Getting Fatter Fastest

We already knew we were too fat. It turns out we seem to be getting fatter faster than any other state.

A new federal-state study found that, since 1990, the percentage of severely overweight people in Virginia has ballooned at the most rapid rate in the nation. Close to 24 percent of adults surveyed by telephone now meet the criteria for obesity, according to the latest Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, up from about 10 percent in 1990.

Nobody is heavily surprised.

Southern states, after all, have culinary traditions that revolve around fried and fatty foods. Black communities are especially vulnerable for reasons that include diet, poverty and urban neighborhoods not designed for exercise. Retirees also are at risk for weight gain if they don't stay active.

"It's obvious that we have a real problem," said Dr. Elaine Perry, director of the Peninsula Health District. "The more we've gone around talking to people, the more we realize how much interest there is and how much we need exercise and nutrition programs, especially for low-income people."

Since last year, the local health district has led a coalition to fight obesity, working on educational programs with community groups, churches and schools.

Last summer, the district released new data on more than 18,000 schoolchildren that classified more than 30 percent as overweight or at risk for being too heavy. Some impoverished communities had rates above 40 percent. The adult obesity rate was about 19 percent in 2002, Perry said, and she expects that has since climbed above 20 percent.

Obesity is no laughing matter. Extra weight poses life-threatening health risks, including diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and liver damage. Among the many causes are too much junk food, too little exercise, stress, genetics, poverty and the high cost of nutritious foods.

The definition of obesity is based on a formula called the body-mass index, or BMI, which considers a person's height and weight. People with a BMI greater than 30 -- a 6-foot person who weighs more than 220 pounds, to give one example -- are considered obese. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 falls into the overweight category. The definition for children is more complicated, but it takes height, weight and age into account.

There is some hope for Virginia. We're not the fattest state -- not yet. That distinction goes to West Virginia, where 27.5 percent of adults are obese, according to surveys. Mississippi (26.8 percent) and Texas (25.5 percent) round out the top three.

The national rate is estimated at about 30 percent, which means the telephone survey -- overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- likely low-balled the state rates. For one thing, it relied on participants to be honest about their height and weight.

Whatever the accuracy of the survey, Virginia health leaders have attacked the problem with increased attention and new initiatives. This year, the Virginia Department of Health will sponsor a series of public meetings across the state to brainstorm ideas for slimming down. Gov. Mark Warner's Healthy Virginians program urges state employees to exercise for at least 15 minutes a day.

Locally, Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters has the Healthy You Weight Management Program, a course that covers nutrition, fitness and emotional issues involved in overeating. Another successful program is Williamsburg WalkAbout for Kids, which has children keep track of miles walked to earn pedometers and other prizes.

Awareness is the first step to better health, doctors say. To figure out your personal BMI, try the National Institutes of Health's calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm. *

OBESITY FORMULA

To calculate your BMI, go to the National Institutes of Health's calculator at www.nhlbisupport^].com/bmi/bmicalc.htm. *